"Flag Officers Just Don't Understand'
(Previous Post: Mark's 'New Assignment')
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Setting: Commodore Simmons' Office
Stardate: 60326.1400
Commodore James Simmons had seen a lot in his tenure as a Starfleet officer. Countless worlds, countless species. But something as major as this he couldn't fathom on his worse day... but it was arriving soon. Being the bases Strategic Operations Officer gave the former CO of the ANUBIS a purview of starship operations in the area of their missions. But in reading the latest log entries from his former command had the flag officer at ends.
"A court martial... for one of my" and he stopped himself, "Sabrina's officers" he said as he paced and Clora Sul looked at him, "its asinine!"
"James" Sul said as the flag officer steamed on "I mean... what in the hell was David thinking?! Stealing the SPHINX?! Endangering the lives of his crewmates? And killing Commander Enaii?! He's lucky *I'm* not the officer sitting on his hearing..."
"James!" Sul said, "don't you think Koneki is going to ask for you? So before you go off half cocked...like someone we both know as done before, calm down and clear your head. It isn't good to form an opinion of David so soon."
"And how many times had *I* warned him about his temper? Hadn't I warned him that it'll be his undoing one day..."
Simmons' comm badge bleeped.
=/\= Allyson to Commodore Simmons, please report to Admiral Koneki's office. =/\=
He tapped it, "On my way" and closed the connection. Before he left, he kissed his fiancee.
"I can see it in your mind. 'I told you so'" James said.
"You never told me you were half Betazoid James."
He shook his head and said with a smile, "You never asked" he added a wink and left.
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Setting: Admiral Koneki's Office
Stardate: 60326.1405
As the commanding officer of NEW ALEXANDRIA paced back and forth in front of the four statues of the Egyptian deities his eyes kept going back to Doctor Wallin.
"Well" Koneki said pausing for a moment stroking his beard, "*I'm* waiting Doctor."
"Sir, I have the foggiest idea..."
"And that's your *best* professional opinion?!" he snapped, "I thought I told you we needed to keep this under wraps!"
"Admiral, I can not control what isn't here. If Lieutenant Dawson was assigned to the base, then and *only* then could we have kept the lid on this. I was in my report to you before the ANUBIS went off to rescue the MERCURY..."
Koneki waved him off, "I read the report. But in your report once that file got here you said that Starfleet Medical had found a way to control subjects with SDS."
Wallin sighed. Explaining thing to flag officers... why did it *always* have to be complex.
"Admiral, there are only two known cases of SDS. That was Lieutenant Dawson and his brother. After his brother..." and the CMO paused, "met his untimely end it wasn't even considered that was one of Dawson's problems. He was given sedatives and treatments. Taught meditative principles and such. And for a while it worked."
Koneki stopped. "Until?"
"His mission to the DOUGEON EXPANSE. Did you read the report Doctor Ennis filed on his so called possession?"
Koneki remember reading the report. How David basically turned the AVALON upside down before he was curtailed.
"How does the possession and our *other* project coincide?"
Doctor Wallin steepled his fingers. "Until I can study him I can only guess."
"Then your best guess Doctor?" Koneki said.
"From the last time David was admitted to Starfleet Medical to that mission was 12 years. He could have found a way to suppress those urges. Then again, the possession could have awaken the sleeping giant per se. But Admiral, what if we are wrong? What if this was nothing more than a loss of temper and him thinking that was his only option?"
Before the flag officer could reply, his comm badge bleeped, =/\= Admiral Koneki, Commodore Simmons is here sir. =/\=
"Thank you Allyson. Show him in." and he closed the connection nodding Wallin to the other exit out of his office.
"We'll speak again" he told the CMO before James entered.
"Commodore" Koneki said as he nodded to a seat.
"Admiral" James replied and sat.
"Difficult times" Koneki said sliding a PADD across his desk. James picked it up and scanned it.
"Admiral, let's cut to the chase" James said, "do you want me on the board of inquiry or not?"
"Always direct James. Glad you're on the team" Koneki replied, "yes. I believe you have some insight as to Lieutenant Dawson's erratic behavior."
"Sir, I'd like to excuse myself." James said putting the PADD on the desk, "true enough I have reprimanded David for his actions in the past, but in doing so whenever David lost it it was always for the betterment of the ship and crew. He might have destroyed a few shuttles, dented a door..."
"Of solid duranium I might add" Koneki said, "and I guess you don't find that befitting of a Starfleet officer."
It wasn't a question. "I agree that it isn't looked upon with great acceptance" James said, "but the question you have to ask yourself Admiral is this: Do the end justify the means?"
"Meaning do I have to constantly have to continue babysitting a officer who's lost a marble or two?"
James heard Sul's warning in the back of his head. **Don't be biased**
"That's negative thinking isn't it?" James asked.
"Well... its what he's always wanted wasn't it?" Koneki replied, "he's hated being here since the first day he stepped foot on the base..."
"And he's done a helluva job since arriving" James said.
"He's attacked me and several members of your crew when you were CO"
"And he was punished for it as well" James replied.
Koneki had to change gears on Simmons, "Once again, we're facing the blatant insubordination charge. Endangering the lives of his crewmates and causing the death of a crewmate..."
James held up a cautionary finger, "We *don't* know that sir. And I've read the report. That right there is hearsay."
Koneki eyes narrowed, "How so?"
"Sabrina's words against his. Sabrina blames David for Enaii's death and although no one has taken a report from him or gotten his side of it, he could simply say he was acting in the best interest of rescuing the MERCURY survivors..." and James paused.
"What is it?" Koneki said.
"I wonder why no one has taken a statement from David." James said tapping the PADD on the desk, "here we have Sabrina's report and her statement. Serenna's report and her statement saying she's taking on the role as defense counsel... but *no* report from David."
"Lieutenant Dawson will have a chance to make a statement" Koneki said, "as soon as he's in the brig."
"Admiral" James said standing, "you're not turning this into a witch hunt are you?"
Koneki stood himself facing the challenge, "what are you saying Commodore? That I can't be neutral?"
"Not saying that at all" James replied, "all I'm saying is that David should have a fair shot. And even knowing the history the two of you share I would like to caution my commanding officer not to throw the proverbial book at him until we have reason to."
With that James turned to leave. Before he reached the door leading to Koneki's anteroom he paused, "And now that I think about it, yes. I'll serve on the inquiry board." and with that James exited the flag officer's office.
Alone Koneki faced the statue of ANUBIS and smirked. It would seem that he found himself at a crossroads. He had to admit to himself that David was one of the most proficient engineers he'd known. He was well liked by his top two engineers on the base. Commanders Foley and Vasquez and most of the engineering staff on the base. He was decorated and since arriving on NEW ALEXANDRIA has held the highest proficiency rating of a ships CEO... even higher than the CEO of the SCARAB.
But that alone wasn't enough to salvage the career of David Dawson. He'd endangered his ship and crew. He disobeyed a direct order from his CO and in doing so killed his top Intel operative. Koneki thought of Enaii and frowned. He'd never have another like her. He pulled a holo imager from his desk and activated it. It was a image of him, Captain David Dawson, and David in his Academy uniform during his second year at the Academy.
"The sins of the father" Koneki said, "giving him your name and looks like he's tarnished it. If there was only a way to make him more like you were" he said looking at the image of Captain Dawson and he smiled slightly, "maybe there is."
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Julian Knight (d_dawson_1@yahoo.com)
as
Lieutenant David Dawson
Chief Engineer
USS ANUBIS NCC 18501
"A Starfleet officer... that's all I am and that's all I'll ever be." 2005 post #407
- Avery Brooks as Captain Benjamin Sisko,
Commanding Officer of the Federation Spacestation Deep Space 9
